Thirds to william saefke and henry saefke



No; 606,703. Patented July 5, 1898. S; BBOICH'GANS'. GAS APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.

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Nrrnn STATES PATENT rrrcn.

STEPHEN BROIOHGANS, OF MILlVAUKEE, WVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO- THIRDS TO WILLIAM SAEFKE AND HENRY SAEFKE, OF SAME PLACE.

GAS APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters PatentNo. ooavoa' iata July 5, 1898.

Application filed September 13,1897. -Serial1 To.651,463f (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN BRoIoHcANs,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Apparatus; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriphigh-capacity domestic-plant apparatus for automatic production of gas suitable for illu minating and heating purposes.

It therefore consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts,

hereinafter particularly set forth with reference to the accompanying drawing and subsequently claimed.

The drawing is a diagram illustrating the relative arrangement andconnection of parts embodied in my improved gas apparatus, some of said parts being shown in elevation and the others in section.

Referring by letter to the drawing,A represents a tank for liquid'hydrocarbon, gasolene-oil being the preferred material, and leading from the tank is a pipe B, connected by an ordinary check-valve coupling 1) with the inlet of an oil-pump cylinder, the outlet of the latter being connected by another ordinary check-valve coupling 0 with a pipe O'in connection with a carbureter of any suitableconstruction, a cylinder filled with absorbent material being ordinarily employed. I

The oil-pump is of any suitable construction, and the one herein clearly illustrated is of the lift variety, having its plunger-rod in loose-play connection with a lever D, fulcrumed at one end to a bracket fast on the cylinder portion of said pump. The other end of the pump-lever has pivotal connection with avertical rod E, for which suitable guides may be provided, this rod being in loose engagement with a cross-head E and provided with stops d e above and below said crosshead, the "upper stop being adjustable longitudinally of said rod to regulate lift of the pump-plunger. The cross-head is fast to the rod of a piston that has reciprocation in a cylinder, the latter and a piston constituting a motor that derives its power from a source of fluid under pressurepwater from a city-service system beinga'suitable motive force for operating said piston in one direction. The motor-cylinder is shown as having its lower end coupled to a Water-inlet pipe and a waterdis'charge pipe. The water-inlet pipe is controlled by a valve F, and another valve G conmus the water-discharge pipe, these, valves being automatically actuated by mechanism hereinafter specified.

" An ordinary gas-holder constitutes part of the apparatus, and this gas-holder consists of an open-bottom cylinder reciprocative in a tank containing a volume of water, this cyl inder being preferably provided with antifriction-pulleys operative on vertical tracks upon the' inside of the water-tank. Gas is supplied to the holder by a pipe leading from the carbureter, and this gas'has its outlet from said holder through a service-pipe, bot-h pipes being extended up into the aforesaid holder above the water-level. V

A lug f, extending from the reciprocative gas-holder, operates ina downward direction 'on a rod g, that is loose in guides h on the water-tank, and a foot *6 of the rod rests on an arm j of a weighted bell-crank, a stop 7t being arranged to limit upward tilt of this bellcrank. The other arm j of the bell-crank opposes a stemm, extending from a spring-controlled sliding latch n, that has its guides on the short arm of a lever H, the latter being 7 herein shown at rest upon a stop 0 and having a common fulcrum with another lever I, 'the'short arnrof the latter lever being provided with a bevel-point hook-catch p for the engagement of "saidlatch. The long arm of lever H is provided with a weight, and the short arm of lever I is also provided with a ,weight." V

' The long arm of lever I is shown provided with an antifriction-roller q, engaged with a longitudinal slot ina crank J, that has connection with the valve G, controlling the waterdischarge pipe of the motor, and a link? connects this crank with another crank K, hav ing connection with the valve F, controlling the water-inlet pipe of said motor. Hence it will be seen that movement on the part of said lever will operate both valves at the same instant, one being opened and the other closed.

The long arm of lever II is provided with a lateral lug s, and depending from the crosshead E is a rod L, provided with a pivotal foot t, that operates, in conjunction with said lug, as a lift and a trip for said lever.

A vertical open bracket E, herein shown as an integral part of the cross-head E, contains antifriction-rollers 21., that impinge opposite edges of one end of a lever M, fulcrumed at u: and provided with a weight N between the fulcrum and said cross-head bracket. Extending upward from the aforesaid bracket is a red O, that has loose play in aguide .r, and in practice this rod and bracket may be considered as extensions of the motor piston-rod. The other end of the lever M is connected by a link P with a lug on the bottom of a pot Q, and in continuous flange union with the upper edge of this pot is the corresponding end of a jacketR, said pot being one form of an elongated piston pertaining to a preferred form of air-pump constituting a necessary element of my improved appa ratus. The space between the elongated piston and its jacket is engaged by a cylindrical wall S, rising from the bottom of a tank T, containing water up to a height nearly that of said wall, the length of said piston and jacket being such that some of the same is always below the water-level.

The jacket portion of the air-pump piston is shown provided with antifriclion-rollers that operate on vertical tracks inside the water-tank T, and the air-chamber within the cylindrical wall S has an inlet-aperture controlled by a flap-valve U, the outlet of said air-chamber being connected by an ordinary check-valve coupling 2 with a pipe leading to the aforesaid carbureter.

From the foregoing it will be understood that there is but little friction incidental to operation of the air-pump piston herein shown and that the surface of water exposed to airpressure is reduced to such limits that there is no appreciable disturbance of said water or leakage of air under pressure of said piston.

The capacity of the gas apparatus in proportion to the motive force is increased by the employment of two air-pumps, so arranged and coupled as to have one ejecting air when the other is taking the same, and therefore a twin of the abovedeseribed air-pump is herein shown in check-valve coupling with the pipe leading to the carbureter, the tank portions of these pumps being connected by bearings for trunuions of a rocker V, having its extremities connected by links. with the lugs on the bottoms of the pots constituting parts of the pump-pistons. A volume of water is shown in the pot portion of the piston that belongs to the duplicate air-pump; but this piston may be otherwise weighted, it being understood that the descent of the primary air pump piston is due to power of the motor, while the secondary air-pu mp piston depends on gravity for its descent and compression of air. The weighted air-pump piston also cooperates with the weighted lever ill in forcing down the motor-piston when the water-inlet pipe is cut off and the water-discharge pipe opened. The various parts of the gas apparatus being in the relative positions herein shown, it will be understood that further dcscent of the gas-holder will cause the lug f thereof to depress rod g and thereby actuate the weighted bell-crank to retract springlatch a from the catch portion of lever I, tilt of the latter,incidental to descent ofits weighted short arm, operating the valve mechanism to simultaneously open the valve l of waterinlet pipe and close valve G- of the water-discharge pipe.

Ascent of the motor-piston, incidental to an inflow of water under pressure to the motorcylinder, causes lift of the cross-head E and weighted lever M, whereby a charge of the liquid hydrocarbon is lifted by the oil-pump and a charge of compressed air forced through the carburetor to form gas, that finds its way into the holder, the latter being elevated by gas-pressure therein. In the meantime the foot 25 of rod L has caught under lug s on lever II, and thus this lever is tilted to cause the latch carried thereby to again engage the catch of lever I, by which the aforesaid valve is antomatically operated. Owing to the weight on the long arm of lever II, return of the lat ter to original position after the foot 6 of rod L has cleared lug s will operate to return lever I to like position, whereby there is a reversal of the valve mechanism to cut off the water-inlet pipe and open the water-discharge pipe of the motor. This operation having taken place, there is gravity descent on the part of the motor-piston, whereby the previously-lifted charge of liquid hydrocarbon is expelled from the oil-pump into the carburetcr. It also follows that if there be a single air-3n mp the latter will have its piston on ascent coincident with descent of the motor-piston; but if two air-pumpsbc employed, and coupled substantially as herein shown, the secondary one of the pair will have its piston on downstroke to force another charge of air through the carbureter.

The apparatus is wholly automatic in its character so long as gas is being consumed, the production keeping pace with the consumption while the motive force is operative.

\Vhile a practical showing has been made of my improvements, the mechanical details of these improvements may be somewhat varied in practice without departure from what is sought to be covered, especiallyin connection with the air pu mp or pumps and motivepowercontrolling mechanism. It is also to be understood that a motive force other than water under pressure may be utilized, if found more convenient.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, isa 1. An automatic gas apparatus comprising an air-pump consisting of a Water-tank having an air-chamber therein higher than the water-level, this chamber being provided with a bottom outlet and valve-controlled inlet; an elongated piston having reciprocative engagement with the air-chamber, and an airchamber jacket having its upper end in continuous flange union with the piston.

2. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a duplex air-pump consisting of a pair of water-tanks each having an air-cham ber therein higher than the water-level, this chamber being provided with a bottom outlet and valvecontrolled inlet; an elongated piston having reciprocative engagement with each air-chamber, an air-chamber jacket having its upper end in continuous flange union With each piston, and a power-actuated rocker connected to the pistons.

3. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a tank for liquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid, an air-pump, a carbureter in valve controlled pipe connection with the pumps, a reciprocative holder for gas generated in the carbureter, a valve-controlled fluid-pressure motor for said pumps, a lever having a long arm, in loose-play connection with the valvegear of the motor, and a weighted short arm provided With a catch; another lever having a weighted long arm and a short arm provided with a spring-controlled latch engageable with the catch of the former lever, a latch-retracting mechanism arranged to be operated by the gas-holder, and a motor-actuated lift and trip for said weighted long arm of the latchcarrying lever.

4. An automatic gas apparatus, comprising a tank for liquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid, an air-pump, a carbureter in valvecontrolled pipe connection with the pumps, a reciprocative holder for gas generated in the carbureter, a valve-controlled fluid-pressure motor for said pumps, a lever having a long arm, in loose-play connection with the valvegear of the motor, and a weighted short arm provided with a catch; another lever having a Weighted long arm provided with a lateral lug and a short arm providedwith a springcontrolled latch engageable with the catch of the former lever, a latch-retracting mechanism arranged to be operated by the gas-holder, and a motor-actuated reciprocative rod provided with a pivotal foot operative on the aforesaid lever-lug.

'5. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a tank for liquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid, an air-pump, a carbureter in valvecontrolled pipe connection with the pumps, a

reciprocative holder for gas generated in the carburetor; a fluid-pressure motor for said pumps, valves controlling the inlet and discharge of the motor, link-connected valve stem cranks, a lever having a long arm in with a spring-controlled catch-engagin g latch,

a latch-retracting mechanism operated by the gas-holder, and a motor-actuated lift and trip for the long arm of the latter lever.

6. An automatic gas apparatus comprising an air-pump, a carbureter in valve-controlled pipe connection with the air-pump, a reciprocative gas-holder, a fluid-pressure pumpmotor, valves controlling the inlet and discharge of the motor, cranks on the stems of these motor-control valves, a link connecting the valve-stem cranks, and mechanism in connection with one of these cranks operative in conjunction with the gas-holder and motor to automatically efifect simultaneous action of said motor-control valves, whereby when either opens the other closes.

7. An automatic gas apparatus comprising an air-pump, a carbureter in valve-controlled pipe connection with the air-pump, a reciprocative gas-holder, a fluid-pressure pumpmotor, valves controlling the inlet and discharge of the motor, link-connected valvestem cranks, a leverhaving a long arm, in loose-play connection with one ofsaid cranks,

and a Weighted short arm provided with a I catch; another lever having a Weighted long arm and a short arm provided with a springcontrolled latch engageable with the catch of the former lever, a latch-retracting mechanism arranged to be operated by the gas-holder, and a motor-actuated reciprocative lift and trip for said weighted long arm of the latchcarrying lever.

8. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a tank for liquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid, an air-pump, a carbureter in valvecontrolled pipe connection with the pumps, a reciprocative holder for gas generated in the carbureter, a motor for said pumps, a lever having a long arm, in loose-play connection with the motor-control mechanism, and aweighted short arm provided with a catch; another lever having a weighted long arm and a short arm provided with a spring-controlled latch engageable with the catch of the former lever, a latch-retracting mechanism arranged to be operated by the gas-holder and a motor-actuated reciprocative lift and trip for said weighted long arm of the latch-carrying lever.

9. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a tank for liquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid, an air-pump, a carbureter in valvecontrolled pipe connection with the pumps, a reciprocative holder for gas generated inthe carbureter, a motor for said pumps, a lever having a long arm, in loose-play connection with the motorcontrol mechanism, and a weighted short arm provided with a catch; another lever having a weighted long arm and a short arm provided with a spring-controlled latch engageable with the catch of the former lever a stop arranged under the weighted long arm of the latch-carrying lever, and a motoractuated rcciprocative lift and trip for said stop-opposed lever-arm.

10. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a tank for liquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid, a duplex air-pump, a carbureter having valve-controlled pipe connection with the pumps, a reciproeative holder for gas generated in the carbureter, a motor forsaid pumps, a lever having a long arm, in loose-play connection with the motor-control mechanism, and a weighted short arm provided with a catch; another lever having a weighted long arm and a short arm provided with a springcontrolled latch engageable with the catch of the former lever, a latch-retracting mechanism arranged to be operated by the gas-holder, and a motor-actuated reciprocative lift and trip for said weighted long arm of the latchcarrying lever.

11. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a tank forliquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid; a carbureter, a gas-holder and a duplex air-pump, the latter having one weighted piston and a rocker in connection with both pistons; a motor having a reciprocative element operative in connection with the liquidpump, a weighted lever in connection with the lighter air-pump piston and reciprocative element of the motor, a leverhavingamotorcontrol long arm and weighted short arm provided with a catch, another lever having a weighted long arm and a short arm provided with a spring-controlled catch-en gagin g latch, a latch-retracting mechanism operated by the gas-holder, and a motor-controlled lift and trip for the long arm of the latter lever.

12. An automatic gas apparatus comprising a tank for liquid hydrocarbon, a pump for this liquid; a carbureter, a gas-holder, and a duplex waterseal air-pump; a motor having a reciprocative element in operative connection with the pumps, a lever having a long arm, in loose-play connection with the motor-control mechanism, and a weighted short arm provided with a catch, another lever having a weighted long arm and a short arm provided with a spring-con trolled catch-engaginglatch, a latch-retracting mechanism operated by the gas-holder, and a motor-controlled lift and trip for the long arm of the latter lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Viscousin, in the presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN BROIOIIGANS.

\Yitnesses:

N. E. OLIPHANT, 13. O. ROLO'FF. 

